Who was Vivian Maier? This question is examined in fascinating detail in the documentary “Finding Vivian Maier,” which attempts to discover the truth behind a mysterious photographer who left behind a brilliant body of work that has taken the art world by storm.

The subject is so fascinating, and the work Maier left behind is striking, even to the layman. But were it not for a stroke of dumb luck, the photography of Vivian Maier would have never been seen by anyone. John Maloof, the co-director of this film, discovered more than 100,000 film negatives after bidding on the contents of an abandoned storage container.

Developing a few rolls, Maloof discovered that these photos were not only good, they were comparable to the photos of those considered the great 20th century artists. Consulting with experts, he discovered that he was not alone in thinking so; now, Maloof is owner of Maier’s catalogue, now beloved and increasingly popular in galleries around the world and private collections.

But it was not enough to have the art; one must know the artist. And the artist, in this case, is a contradictory, difficult, mysterious figure whose life is the stuff of great storytelling. Many of the riddles that were her life can never be solved, but “Finding Vivian Maier” finds plenty of worth in the questions.

Vivian Maier worked as a nanny for various families in Chicago and New York City for decades, and took photos on the streets of these cities, of everyday men and women. She was remembered as reclusive and eccentric, with a dark side her employers and charges remember with mixed affection. She spoke with a French accent, which at least a few of those who met her believed to be fake, though she spent most of her childhood in France.

But who was she? Why did she not want the attention? What were her intentions for these photos, and what are the ethics of displaying her work and bringing attention to her life after her death, when she clearly did not want that attention in her life?

The work is so interesting that it’s clearly a boon to the art world that Maier’s photos have been displayed, and she led a fascinating, mysterious life that is ripe for exploration. Your thoughts may vary on the ethics of these issues. But it’s unquestionable that Maier was an interesting figure, whose complexities make for fascinating subject matter and whose mysteries make for a compellingly structured documentary.

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Who was Vivian Maier? This question is examined in fascinating detail in the documentary “Finding Vivian Maier,” which attempts to discover the truth behind a mysterious photographer who left behind a brilliant body of work that has taken the art world by storm.

The subject is so fascinating, and the work Maier left behind is striking, even to the layman. But were it not for a stroke of dumb luck, the photography of Vivian Maier would have never been seen by anyone. John Maloof, the co-director of this film, discovered more than 100,000 film negatives after bidding on the contents of an abandoned storage container.

Developing a few rolls, Maloof discovered that these photos were not only good, they were comparable to the photos of those considered the great 20th century artists. Consulting with experts, he discovered that he was not alone in thinking so; now, Maloof is owner of Maier’s catalogue, now beloved and increasingly popular in galleries around the world and private collections.

But it was not enough to have the art; one must know the artist. And the artist, in this case, is a contradictory, difficult, mysterious figure whose life is the stuff of great storytelling. Many of the riddles that were her life can never be solved, but “Finding Vivian Maier” finds plenty of worth in the questions.

Vivian Maier worked as a nanny for various families in Chicago and New York City for decades, and took photos on the streets of these cities, of everyday men and women. She was remembered as reclusive and eccentric, with a dark side her employers and charges remember with mixed affection. She spoke with a French accent, which at least a few of those who met her believed to be fake, though she spent most of her childhood in France.

But who was she? Why did she not want the attention? What were her intentions for these photos, and what are the ethics of displaying her work and bringing attention to her life after her death, when she clearly did not want that attention in her life?

The work is so interesting that it’s clearly a boon to the art world that Maier’s photos have been displayed, and she led a fascinating, mysterious life that is ripe for exploration. Your thoughts may vary on the ethics of these issues. But it’s unquestionable that Maier was an interesting figure, whose complexities make for fascinating subject matter and whose mysteries make for a compellingly structured documentary.